Man accused of false fire claim

Jan. 21--A Jacksonville man is accused of using a years-old fire to claim a new report for insurance money.

Kevin Junior Grice, Jr., 34, of Serena Drive in Jacksonville was arrested Jan. 20 by the Onslow County Sheriff's Office and charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense.

Grice is accused of attempting to obtain $17,390 from Assurant Insurance by providing a false claim that a fire had occurred at his residence causing $9,250 in personal damage and $8,140 in damage to the residence, according to warrants.

Fire Marshal Brian Kelly contacted the sheriff's office on Dec. 11 after he received a report from an insurance agency that Grice had allegedly filed a report for a fire at his home, said Maj. Chris Thomas with the sheriff's office.

Grice allegedly told the insurance company the fire happened on Oct. 21, 2015, Thomas said, but the photos submitted were taken on Nov. 21, 2005.

Kelly looked in his files but did not find any fire at his address for that date, Thomas said.

The investigation between the sheriff's office and Kelly found that Grice allegedly used the 2005 photos to claim a fire happened at his residence in 2015, Thomas said.

Grice turned himself in Friday, Thomas said.

Bond was set at $10,000.

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